MLB News

Vogelbach more than a 'big bruiser'

By
Greg Johns

March 10, 2017

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Daniel Vogelbach is a big kid with good power, but the Mariners like the stocky 24-year-old first baseman because he's also capable of getting on base at a high rate. The youngster demonstrated that skill on Friday with a pair of opposite-field singles in Seattle's 11-10 win

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Daniel Vogelbach is a big kid with good power, but the Mariners like the stocky 24-year-old first baseman because he's also capable of getting on base at a high rate. The youngster demonstrated that skill on Friday with a pair of opposite-field singles in Seattle's 11-10 win over the Cubs at Peoria Stadium.The 6-foot, 250-pound rookie took what the Cubs were giving him and soft-served his two hits to left field in a 2-for-3 day that raised his Cactus League average to .345 (10-for-29). He has also walked four times for a .424 on-base percentage, which isn't that far above his healthy .391 mark in his Minor League career."That is part of his game," manager Scott Servais said of the two opposite-field strokes. "I know he's the big bruiser and everybody thinks he knocks it out of the park, but he uses the whole field to hit. And that's why he's a good hitter."Vogelbach played against his former organization as the Cubs selected him in the second round of the 2011 Draft before dealing him to Seattle last July. He's now the Mariners' No. 10 prospect by MLBPipeline.com and in line to share first-base duties with veteran Danny Valencia in a platoon tandem this year.Worth noting• Servais said the first cuts will likely come early next week, once Minor League camp gets in full swing and players can be sent to the other side of the facility. The Mariners have 63 players present and must get that down to 25 before Opening Day on April 3 in Houston. Minor League full-squad workouts begin on Monday, and the first Minor League games will begin on March 18.• Reliever Steve Cishek says he has taken the last few days off from throwing, but he will now gear up with three days in a row of catch as he continues building back up following October hip surgery.• Single-game tickets for the regular season go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. PT on Saturday through the Safeco Field Box Office, all Mariners Team Stores and online at Mariners.com/tickets.

Greg Johns has covered the Mariners since 1997, and for MLB.com since 2011. Follow him on Twitter [